Hackers violated the Pentagon’s IT provider and the world’s biggest aerospace company this year. But criminals are targeting us too – and children and Facebook will be prime targets for future cyber-crime.

Security experts warn that child pornographers could be interested in personal photos posted on sites such as Facebook

Governments will be on high alert next year as the rise of hacking groups brings an increased threat of cyber-warfare.

Global security experts predict a hacking bonanza, with criminals enjoying a greater choice of targets than ever before. We face three main threats: scams on social-networking sites such as Facebook; targeted attacks, such as those that occurred earlier this year on the Sony PlayStation network and the Pentagonâs IT provider and aerospace company, Lockheed Martin; and mobile malware, which infiltrates phone apps or turns your device into a âbotâ that can be controlled by a hacker.

However, the most worrying prediction is the danger to children. M86 Security Labs, based in California, warns child pornographers and kidnappers could be interested in personal photos posted online.

Many digital images are stamped with the GPS co-ordinates of where they were taken, explains Bradley Anstis of M86.

âA lot of people donât realise that, with GPS-enabled devices, your GEO location and GPS co-ordinates can be ripped,â he says. âIf your kids use Facebook to upload a photo of their new bedroom to show friends, an attacker could find the co-ordinates for that address.â

The social media threat should not be underestimated. âWe see more new attacks and more new methods coming through social media than any other channel,â says Anstis.

A new M86 report investigates malicious campaigns on Facebook called âlikejackingâ, where users are tricked into liking pages linked to malicious or dubious websites. It also claims mobile devices are at increased risk of attack.

âAndroid is now the most attacked platform,â says Anstic. âThis is no anti-Android thing but its application system is a lot more open to malware. Itâs very much a Wild West out there in terms of protection and, at the moment, there are only very dubious solutions.

âWith the Apple iOS, you have to jump through a lot more hoops, stand on one leg and face the wall before getting your application approved.â

A typical mobile-phone attack is to try and access bank accounts by intercepting text messages sent by banks to their customers.

Itâs not just individuals who should worry The rise of hacking groups, such as Anonymous and LulzSec, has increased the risk of organisation and government attacks. âHacking groups are all trying to out-do each other and prove whoâs the best,â says Anstis.

Hacking groups choose their targets for commercial, political or military reasons. Lockheed Martinâs attackers, for instance, may have been able to steal fighter jet blueprints.

Anstis says the distinction between cyber-crime and cyber-warfare is becoming blurred. âTargeted attacks are only a small step from cyber-warfare and cyber-warfare is controlled by countries,â he says.

âWith cyber-criminals, there is nothing to stop them from taking another step forward alone and saying: âHey, why donât we try and overheat some nuclear reactors?â Itâs scary stuff.â

Even next yearâs Olympic Games is at risk from hackers. Anstis warns criminals may try ticketing, travel and merchandise scams. Sports fans should be on the lookout for spoof emails that look like theyâre from legitimate organisations.

âThis can be accomplished by publishing a section on its website or a fraud-watch line where suspicious activity can be reported,â says Anstis, who admits Olympic organisers can warn people of the risk. âThere is a real opportunity for London to set a precedent for future events like this.â